Concussion Information for Teachers, Advisors and House Parents

This document offers some basic guidelines on our work with students already diagnosed with a concussion. SAFETY FIRST -- if a student comes to you reporting a head injury call 911 if you have any doubt of the student's health or safety.

Content

When a student has been diagnosed with a concussion by a physician, CA will do no less than follow the guidelines provided by that physician. CA consults with a psychologist who specializes in concussion.

A student will be strongly encouraged to practice cognitive rest immediately following their injury, usually for two or so days. In the past, doctors suggest that students practice cognitive rest until they are asymptomatic (no headaches, dizziness, blurred vision, etc.) "Cognitive rest" means no screens, no reading, no writing or typing or texting.

More recently, most doctors are suggesting a brief period of complete rest followed by a slow return to cognitive activity as tolerated. In other words, a student may come back to school, go to class and then go to the health center if a headache comes on. Or, they may do a little work before their eyes tire.

We encourage all students to stay at home during initial recovery. Day students or local boarders may return to school for partial days. In some instances a boarder may be allowed to return to campus and pursue a partial schedule. A rough guideline for students is that they may return to school when they can read or do homework for an hour without experiencing concussion-related symptoms.

Once students return to school, they are granted extended time in all subjects until they are entirely asymptomatic. Faculty members should work with students in conjunction with their advisor and the academic dean to reschedule work as needed.

Some students will need to alter their schedules upon return to school.

Return to a full academic schedule is done at the student's discretion in conjunction with parents and medical professionals. We must rely on accurate self-reporting from students.

We consider accurate self-reporting a part of common trust that a student will be honest with adults and neither rush a return back to activity when still symptomatic nor delay return to activity when asymptomatic.

The "IMPACT" testing administered by the athletics department is used only to delay return to activity, not to accelerate return (return to baseline function on the test is only one criterion for return to physical activity).

Please consult with one of the deans or health services if you have any questions surrounding concussion.